Portugal

The Grotto

     So this just in...Portugal is amazing!!               A-MAZING...I have a feeling I will be starting out about ninety-nine percent of my blog entries with that word.:) My roommate Sara and I were fortunate enough to spend the entire weekend in Lagos...a small town on the southern coast and a retirement destination at its finest--gorgeous views, beaches and the relaxed lifestyle everyone longs for (or at least I do!:)).

We started out our trip with a sangria sailboat tour, which is exactly what it sounds like...lots and lots of sangria, gorgeous views of the grotto (the 'rocky formations' in the pictures--that's my own scientific description), and a quick dip in the crystal blue Atlantic Ocean! A couple of naps later we all went out to dinner to a place called Nah Nah Ba (I'm almost positive that is NOT how you spell it). We were craving some authentic Portuguese cuisine so why we were led to a restaurant that serves MASSIVE hamburgers and pasta portions is beyond me...but it was amazing! I ordered a burger that was roughly the size of my head and enjoyed every bite...I felt like I was on Man vs. Food. And I dominated. Our next 'challenge' landed us at a bar that served fish-bowl-sized drinks and why we decided to combine both of these oversized portions into one night is also beyond me, but both were quite delicious. This weekend provided a nice balance of consumption and relaxation and I therefore have NOTHING to complain about. :)

Gorgeous sunset at "The End of the World"

     After consuming and dancing the night away, no one was opposed to dedicating the entire next day to lounging on the beach (rough life, I know). Later that evening we met up to take a bus to the most southwestern point in Europe, which used to be referred to as 'the end of the world' because back in the day they thought that it was (nothing as far as the eye can see to the East, South, and West), to watch the sunset. I think it goes without saying that it was beautiful but I'll say it anyways...it was beauuutiful!!! Sara and I took some romantic engagement photos and afterwards a group of us went to dinner and this time actually ate some of that Portuguese cuisine we had been craving. Chicken Puri Puri (Puri Puri is the delicious spicy sauce that it comes with) is a popular dish there and it really was delicious! We topped it off with wine of course, a GREEN wine to be exact, which is only made in Portugal (so I obviously had to bring a couple of bottles home with me) and a couple of hours of dancing later we had successfully completed another night out in Portugal.
  

Learn how to surf: check!:)

     Sunday morning a group of us drove out to the west coast for some surfing lessons! The waves in the picture shown look non-existent but they were quiiiiite large, I swear! I probably still have salt water up my nose to prove it...I got taken out once or twice...okay maybe a few times;)  But I was able to get up and SURF and it was so incredibly fun!! So glad that I did it and I would definitely love to do it again someday:)

Now back to Madrid for another week of teaching...and by week I mean Tuesday for a half day, skip Wednesday for the first of many random but welcomely celebrated Spanish holidays, Thursday and Friday. Did I mention life is rough? Knock on wood, it is still sunny and warm here on this side of the world and needless to say, life is quite good:) Until next time! Un saludo y adios~ :)